Apparatus for reducing



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM A. DOBLE, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

APPARATUS FOR REDUClNG, REFlNlNG, AND SEPARATING BITUMINOUS SUBSTANCES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 500,474, dated. June 27, 1893, Application filed September 7, 1892- Serial No. 445,244. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM A. DoBLn, a citizen of the United States, residing in the cityand county of San Francisco, State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Reducing, Refining, and Separating Bituminous Substances, especially Petroleum Pitch when Mixed with Earthy Matter; and I hereby declare the following specification, and drawings accompanying and forming a part of the same, to be a true and exact description of my invention, with the mode of constructing and applying the same.

My invention relates to a method of treating bituminous substances, by currents of hot air, or steam, under sufficient pressure applied beneath and through the mass, so as to perform the functions of agitation, also melting and separating such substances, by means of such currents of air or steam, under pressure, Without other mechanical means of agitation and stirring, such as are commonly applied in these processes, and to apparatus therefor.

My improved apparatus consists in a retort or refining vessel, preferably mounted on trunnions, and having perforations in the bottom, through which hot air or steam is forced, so as to melt, mechanically agitate, and separate, charges of bituminous substances contained in the vessel, and then permitting the treated substances to assume by their gravity, while in a melted state, difierent strata, which can be drawn oif, and, if necessary, separated into grades of different nature or fineness, after which the residuum is decanted by inverting the vessel.

The objects of my invention are to avoid mechanical mixing apparatus immersed in the material, and to secure a more complete separation than is possible when agitation is performed by such apparatus, also to secure a separation of the treated material by settling, and the manner of drawing ofi the same from the main vessel, also to permit absolute control over the temperature of the substance during treatment, so the essential oils will not be driven off by excessive heat, and the material become hard and brittle.

To carry out my invention, I employ a converting or refining apparatus as shown in the drawings, in which- Figure l is an elevation of a converting vessel showing the manner of mounting the same. Fig. 2 is a central section on the line X X of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is another section on the same line, but showing themain vessel in a position to permit the contents to settle after treatment. Fig. 4 is a similar view in section, showing the main vessel in the position of decanting the contents. Fig. 5 is another sectional view with the main vessel inverted so as to discharge the residuum or waste products after the useful portion has been drained off. Fig. 6 is a plan view on the bottom plate, showing the position and shape of the perforations therein, through which the hot air or steam is injected.

Similar letters of reference on the different figures indicate corresponding parts thereof.

The main vessel is composed of three sections A, A and A bolted together to suit the convenience of construction, and also for other purposes, to be hereinafter pointed out. This main vessel is preferably mounted on trunnions at each side supported in bearings B and B so as to be revolved about the axis of the trunnions, as shown in the diiferent figures of the drawings, the Working positions being indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. The bearings B and B are mounted on a frame 0, or other suitable support, high enough to permit the vessel to be inverted, as shown in Fig. 5. The bearing B is made large enough to receive a hollow trunnion D, through which steam or hot air is admitted from a supply pipe E, provided with apacked gland F, thus permitting revolution of the trunnion without disturbing the pipe E, and preventing the escape of air or steam at that point. From this hollow trunnion D, and inside the bearing B a pipe H, extends to the chamber G, bolted to the main vessel and corresponding in functions to atuyere. The hot air or steam is conducted in the pipe H, to the tuyere chamber G, and is then forced up through the apertures R, shown in Fig. 6.

Around the central section A of the main vessel, I place a heating jacket I, which is connected to the hollow trunnion D, by a pipe J, provided with a cock at K; the purpose being to maintain orprolong a high temperature of the main vessel when the main inlet through the pipe H, is shut off by means of the valve L. If for example the vessel is in the positions shown in Figs. 3 and 4, and it is desirable to retain the contents in a fluid state for an indefinite period of time to promote settling or for any other purpose, the valve L, in the pipe H, being closed, the cock K, is opened, and steam or hot air admitted to the jacket I.

To permit waste water to pass off, in the case of steam, or permit circulation in the case of hot air being employed in the process, I provide an escape pipe P, communicating, through the trunnion B, with the jacket I. This pipe P can be provided with a cock, in case of using steam, so as to regulate the pressure or temperature desired in the jacket I. This will maintain the contents S, of the main vessel in a melted state for any desired time, and if required during the process of boiling and reducing the pitch in the main vessel, ,the jacket I, can be kept hot continuously.

The bottom chamber or tuyere box G, is made detachable for inspection or repairs. So also are the sections A, A and A of the main vessel, these being separable at a a, as indicated in the sectional views.

To revolve the main vessel I employ, prefcrably, a worm or tangent wheel 0, attached rigidly to the trunnion B, and operated by a worm pinion at Q in the usual manner, but it is obvious that various kinds of mechanism can be employed for this purpose.

Referring now to the operation of my apparatus, the main vessel is charged, as shown in Fig. 2, with bituminous substance, commonly broken lumps of pitch and earth comined, or bituminous ore. The main vessel b wheing in a vertical position, hot air or steam is then turned on by means of the valve L, and enters the tuyere box G, from Where it is forced up through the perforations R among the contents S of the main vessel, first melting them, and then, by force of the entering hot gases, violently agitating and separating the plastic or melted material until the solids are set free from the pitch. In some cases the material can be best treated by a dry current of hot air. In others moisture is necessary, and steam is employed, as the nature of the substance to be reduced may require. To facilitate this operation I make the perforations R of a spiral form or diagonal in respect to the vertical axis of the main vessel, so as to impart rotative movement to the contents S, after the latter is in a melted state. The boiling and agitating process is continued until the mass is liquid and homogeneous, except as to the lighter portions being on top, the vapor, in the mean time, escaping at the discharge nozzle '1, from where it can be conducted in suitable pipes to condensing apparatus for saving the volatile byproducts passing off that way. I do not, in

my present application, include this portion of my improved apparatus, intending to embrace the same in a separate application for Letters Patent to be filed in future. When the contents S have been sulficiently treated, the main vessel is then set in the position shown in Fig. 3, and the valve L closed, so that the hot air or steam will be shut 0d, the perforations or inlets R being then above the top of the liquid as shown. The contents are then permitted to settle slowly, heat being maintained by the jacket I, if necessary, until the lighter products come to the top, and

the slag or refuse, such as is heavier than the pitch, settles at the bottom. When this settling process is complete the contents are poured oh, as indicated in Fig. 4, and may be in that manner separated to a considerable degree, in reference to their gravity, nature, or fineness. When the contents are thus drained off, the main vessel is inverted, as shown in Fig. 5, and the residuum removed for further treatment by fire, or disposed of as waste. The main containing vessel I mount on trunnions for the purpose of conveniently adjusting the perforations R above the liquid contents of the vessel, so that they may not be clogged or permit the melted material to run back when the hot air or steam is shut off, also for the purpose of conveniently decanting or discharging the contents, but it is evident other apparatus, having the same functions but different in detail, may be employed to apply and carry out my invention.

Having thus explained the nature of my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. In an apparatus for reducing, refining and separating bituminous substances, the combination of a main vessel or retortmounted on lateral trunnions and revoluble about a transverse horizontal axis, a tuyere box on the main retort which communicates with the interior of said retort through inlet holes in the intermediate wall, together with an inlet pipe for hot air or steam which enters the aforesaid tuyere box, substantially as described.

2. In an apparatus for reducing bituminous substances the combination of the main vessel or retort mounted on trunnions at its sides and revoluble about a transverse horizontal axis, and a tuyere box detachably connected to one end of the main Vessel and having its wall provided with inlet holes opening into the main vessel and contents thereof, said holes being made spiral or diagonal to the vertical axis of the main vessel so as to cause a rotation of the contents therein when they are in a liquid state, together with the hot air or steam supply which enters the aforesaid tuyere box, substantially as described.

3. In an apparatus for reducing bituminous substances, the combination of the main vessel or retort mounted on trunnions at its sides and revoluble thereon about a transverse horizontal axis, said vessel having an oblique IIO charging mouth a detachable tuyere box connected to the end of said vessel opposite its mouth said tuyere communicating with the interior of the main vessel through a perforated wall, an inlet conduit for hot air or steam which enters the tuyere box, an annular jacket surrounding centrally the main retort and a hot air or steam supply pipe entering the latter, substantially as described.

4. In an apparatus for reducing, refining and separating bituminous substances, the combination of a main vessel or retort mounted on lateral trunnions and revoluble thereon about a transverse horizontal axis, said retort having an oblique charging mouth, a detachabletuyere box connected to the end of Witnesses:

ALFRED A. ENQUIST, WILSON D. BENT, Jr. 

